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The Essential Psychedelic Guide - D.M. Turner
The Essential Psychedelic Guide - D.M. Turner
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D. M. Turner - Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Publication Information
Introduction
I - Traditional Psychedelics
II - Empathogens
Bibliography
Cover art by Nick Philip, SFX Lab Illustrations on pages 31, 41, 45, and
59 by P.B.M.
D. M. Turner is a trademark of Panther Press.
Selected excerpt from The Holotropic Mind by Stanislav Grof and Hal
Zina Bennett Copyright 1992 by Stanislav Grof and Hal Zina Bennett.
Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
Additional copies of this book may be ordered for $14.95 each. ($12.95+
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D. M. Turner - Publication Information
For mail orders and international orders see the order form on page 112.
Panther Press
1032 Irving, #514
San Francisco, CA 94122
by Forbidden Donut
What really puts Turner's work in a class by itself are his vivid, lucid
and evocative narrations from the very frontier of consciousness itself.
His trip stories convey the essence of the psychedelic experience in a
manner that I had not previously thought to be possible using such a
crude instrument as the English language. Also particularly noteworthy is
the wide variety of novel and challenging chemical combinations which
this master alchemist brought together within his physical alembic and
then reported on. This makes the work especially important, as he was
likely the first and only person ever to have tried some of these mixtures.
Some may consider certain of them to be excessive or even dangerous;
indeed, Turner's death appears to have been directly related to one of his
experiments. Following his death, it has been pointed out that he was a
bit of a "hard-head"; it took him much higher dosages than most need to
acheive the desired effects. 'Caution' is the watchword, especially for
newcomers to the psychedelic arena. Nevertheless, we must remember
that Turner was the Chuck Yeager of psychonauts, a test pilot's test pilot.
His voyages should therefore be judged accordingly.
Whether or not one entirely agrees with the preceding quote, I believe
that it offers the most useful perspective from which to learn from the
great loss that the psychedelic community suffered on New Year's Eve
1997. If nothing else, I hope that Turner's death inspires us all to be just a
little more careful when surfing the cosmic jetstream. Indeed, if only he
had a sitter nearby on his final voyage, he might still be among the living.
Also, I would hope that this tragedy might teach us to more fully listen to
our personal intuition's guidance as regards these powerful tools, using it
as a balance by which to gauge the veracity of what the materials
themselves may tell us in one of their capricious moods. During the thirty-
four years he spent in his incarnation as D.M. Turner, he touched
innumerable lives with his warmth, wisdom, honesty, courage, and
kindness. And thankfully, he has left us with a rich and impressive
legacy. Enjoy...
Forbidden Donut,
September 29, 1997
INTRODUCTION
There are numerous other methods for entering altered states being
toted about, from meditation and yoga to brain machines and virtual
reality. I've tried many of these methods, enjoy them, and have found
them most valuable used with psychedelics. But to compare the
experience of these methods on their own to the experience of
psychedelics is like comparing a candle to the sun. Other methods don't
even approach the realm of liquid, flowing, digital dreams which can be
accessed by psychedelics like DMT!
As prehistoric men and women foraged for food they must have eaten
the psychedelic plants which grow in nearly all regions of the world.
Ingesting these plants would have produced awe inspiring experiences,
and it is quite likely that the origin of ideas about gods, heavens and
hells, life after death, etc. began with the ingestion of psychedelic plants.
Psychedelic plants are much more abundant in the New World and to
this day play a part in the religions of the Native Americans. When the
Spanish invaded what is now known as Mexico and South America they
executed psychedelic-using natives, and the religions and healing
practices were forced underground. A strong shamanic tradition persisted
for centuries. In the United States, only the Native American Church of
North America retained legal permission to continue religious use of its
psychedelic sacrament, Peyote.
Well, what happened during the Sixties, and how did the majority's
attitude toward psychedelics get so screwed up? Here's a simple
explanation; the U.S. government was afraid of the changes brought
about by psychedelic use. They used the physical, financial, and political
forces they controlled to spread fear and discredit the virtues of
psychedelics.
None of what happened seems too surprising. It fits into the patterns
that human minds are frequently seen to operate in. The majority of the
population is still the type that resists anything new, any change
(neophobic). This mindset is continually reinforced through newspapers,
television, government, religions, schools, and the hierarchical structure
of society. All of these organizations are dominated by people with
neophobic mindsets. Most also possess the Judaeo-Christian concepts
that: humans are evil, sex is evil, we are beneath Gods, we will be
eternally punished if we disobey the rules of the church, or, heaven
forbid, take a psychedelic and try to experience an ecstatic state of
happiness.
Many of the people reinforcing this mindset are not even aware that
they are spreading negativity. They are supporting what they believe is
correct. These people, convinced that the old morals are the "right way"
of living, have generated outright lies about psychedelics, feeling
anything which discourages drug use is justified. Of course, other
members of these organizations spread negative information with purely
nefarious intentions, such as political groups who instruct the CIA to sell
cocaine for financing covert military operations, and then preach that
drugs are the tools of the devil on TV.
PSYCHEDELIC
SAFETY
PHYSICAL SAFETY:
Aside from the use of ecstasy and the Belladonna alkaloids, I know of
but one case where someone experienced physical harm from psychedehc
use. And this was with the ultimately potent combination of Harmaline
and 5-MeO-DMT. Anxiety about physical illness is a frequent response
the mind can generate when undergoing the psychedelic transformation,
and often the increased awareness of bodily functions can cause one to
feel sick. It's useful to be able to distinguish whether a symptom is
actually the result of a substance, or just the mind's imagination. The
book The Psychedelic Experience describes this quite well. On
psychedelics it's also possible for one to become aware of the complex
body/mind relationship, and discover how to ease bodily discomfort by
releasing mental/emotional blocks.
Whenever working with a new substance, the more cautious users will
start with a small dose and work their way up. During this period they
can watch how their body and mind responds to the drug and determine
which dosage works for them. This can be important since some people
may have powerful reactions to amounts which produce only minimal
activity in most people. Some psychedelics, such as LSD, have a wide
margin between the active dose and the amount which may be considered
toxic. Other psychedelics, such as ecstasy, can exhibit toxic effects at just
twice the average dose. Unfortunately, legal scientific research on these
substances is practically non-existent, and the maximum safe dosages
have not been accurately calculated.
Some people feel exhausted or out of touch with reality the day after a
psychedelic trip. This can be expected since they went through so much
during the experience. Many users find it's good to have an extra day
after the trip to recuperate before returning to work, etc. Avoiding
familiar routines for a day allows people to retain more from their
psychedelic journeys.
drove while tripping and are no longer alive to tell about it. If one were to
take a large dose of a psychedelic they would be in a state of mind where
the world that appears before their eyes is going through massive changes
each moment. They may have difficulty recalling their name, and driving
would be totally out of the question. Smaller doses of psychedelics
produce similar but milder changes in one's consciousness. The
psychedelic experience is simply not compatible with the split-second
decisions and maneuvers one must routinely make while driving around
in a two-ton chunk of steel at 60 MPH.
I think that to get the most from a psychedelic experience one must put
aside time completely devoted to the experience, and take a dose that
significantly alters perception. The "recreational" use of smaller amounts
of psychedelics, as is common in social settings such as raves, concerts,
and parties, seldom provides one with a full spectrum of the psychedelic
experience. This is not to say that using psychedelics in this context can
not be beneficial or enjoyable, but many people I have spoken with who
have used psychedelics in only this type of setting don't appear to have
had deep or powerfully transformational experiences. In a situation where
transportation is required, people should try to have a friend drive them,
take a cab, or simply beam themselves wherever they wish to go!
The main physical danger with psychedelics is with those that are
MAO inhibitors and with combinations. Two psychedelics discussed in
this book are MAO inhibitors: 5-MeO-DMT and the Harmala alkaloids.
Many prescription anti-depressant drugs are also MAO inhibitors. MAO
(Mono-Amine-Oxidase) is an enzyme in the body which breaks down
certain foods and chemicals. If one has these foods or chemicals in their
system while taking an MAO inhibitor they will not be broken down,
MENTAL SAFETY:
Each person's mind and capacity for handling psychedelics is different.
Psychedelics are not for everybody, and some of the substances discussed
in this book are particularly heavy. Although most psychedelic trips are
experienced as baneficial, some people have had experiences that left
them distrurbed afterwards. The main reason for these negative
experiences is lack of preparation, rather than anything inherent in the
person or in the substance. One's chances of having a bad trip, or not
being able to reintegrate themselves afterwards, can be sharply reduced
by learning about the experience.
Psychedelics are much more than recreational drugs. They have the
ability to make significant changes in us with a single use. Many
advanced users consider this ability to "reimprint the mind" as the most
important benefit of psychedelics. If examined closely, most psychedelic
experiences will fit the following model. Psychedelics will dissolve one's
identity and perceptual framework, a process commonly called "ego
People who try to manifest the lessons learned through psychedelic use
seem to benefit the most from them. Examples of this are people who
take psychedelics to modify their personality or thinking process, use
them as part of a healing process, or have some creative outlet such as art
or music. In addition to my psychedelic research and writing, I find that
psychedelics give me the inspiration and ability to design and
manufacture high tech audio/visual equipment, work as a performance
artist, pursue several artistic hobbies, as well as hold a senior
management position in the corporate world. Often people who do not go
through personal change with psychedelics find that their experiences
tend to stagnate and get into a repetitive groove. I've seen people
successfully move through this stage by stopping for a while, pursuing
other interests or means of self-exploration, then trying psychedelics
again at a later date.
How often one can effectively use psychedelics varies from person to
person. Users must monitor their own mind, body, and life, as well as
listening to their friends and others around them to determine if they are
overdoing it. Psychedelics are best enjoyed when the body and mind are
in good health, properly nourished, exercised, and rested. Taking
psychedelics when exhausted tends to produce more negative
experiences. This can also lead to poor health since when the body is in a
state of exhaustion, the main things it needs are nourishment and rest, and
psychedelics disrupt the normal patterns of appetite and sleep. A small
percentage of users "abuse" psychedelics by taking more than their
psyche or body can integrate. However, I've only seen this occur with
people using synthetic substances, such as ecstasy, Ketamine, and LSD.
intensity trip. And since the experience is in the mind, one can even have
a high intensity trip with a small dose of a psychedelic.
MAO INHIBITORS
On the other extreme, I've heard many first hand reports from people
who've used these combinations frequently and have had no problems.
1. Maria Sabina, the shamaness who performed the ceremony for R. Gordon
Wasson's first mushroom voyage, died of old age at 97, after some 67 years of
regular mushroom use.
LSD
MOLECULE OF PERFECTION
MATERIAL:
LSD is a synthetic compound. It is derived from Iysergic acid which is
found in Hawaiian Woodrose and Morning Glory seeds, or Ergot fungus,
which can grow on rye, wheat, and other grams. Lysergic acid is also
psychoactive, although not nearly as potent as LSD, and has been
consumed for millennia in the form of the above mentioned plant
sources. The most common street name for LSD is "acid."
HISTORY:
LSD was first synthesized in 1938 by Dr. Albert Hofmann of Sandoz
Pharmaceutical Company in Switzerland. Hofmann was also the first
human to experience LSD when he inadvertently absorbed some through
his fingertips in 1943. Three days later he took the first intentional dose
of LSD.
During the next 20 years LSD was promoted as a psychiatric aid and
numerous experiments were performed in clinical settings. The CIA and
other covert agencies were likewise experimenting with LSD to
determine its effectiveness in brainwashing and mind control.
In the early Sixties Timothy Leary and friends began spreading the
word that LSD produces magnificent spiritual experiences. The
revolution that sprang from this is legendary. It has had a major impact
on western culture, its music and art, and has contributed to the expanded
acceptance of different philosophies, religions, and lifestyles in our
country, as well as to the development of a high tech information society
[1].
DOSAGE:
LSD is extremely potent by weight and the amount required for a
single dose is barely visible to the naked eye. LSD is usually sold on
blotter paper, in tablets, or in liquid. With all of these forms it is
impossible to tell the amount of LSD one is actually consuming.
Frequently people will say that each dose contains 100 mcg., 200 mcg.,
etc. But unless they've worked with the solid crystalline substance to
produce the consumable form, their information is just hearsay or a
personal estimate. Even after many years and several hundred doses of
LSD, I have never had an accurate gauge to measure dosage. My
description of dosage levels is an estimate from what I've been told over
the years, matched up to levels of intensity described by users of Sandoz
LSD which was packaged in certified amounts.
Larger doses make it more likely that one will have a full blown trip,
but sometimes the intensity can be too much and feel like neural
overload. (By the end of many high-dose acid trips I've wished I could
turn down the intensity level of my senses.) The next section explains
more about the range of LSD experiences.
THE HIGH:
Ecstatic feelings of love and happiness, affinity for other people,
feeling of being at home with one's self and the universe, flowing visions
with more intricacy, beauty, and color than anything found in nature,
sound which one can taste and feel with heart and soul, a sense of
suspension in time and feeling akin with eternity and infinity, a brilliantly
lucid mind able to see itself from vast and novel perspectives, an
overwhelming tide of emotions... These are the feelings that are common
with LSD and most other psychedelics. One should also be prepared for
the negative side: confusion, frightful visions and images, fear of dying
or losing control, feeling controlled by and unable to escape from the
definitions one has grown accustomed to, or being overwhelmed by the
immensity of life.
mcg. trip may feel more intense than a 500 mcg. trip from the same
batch, and intensity can fade in and out during a session. Generally one
will feel "higher" if taking the same amount of LSD, or any other
psychedelic, in an unfamiliar environment. One aspect of dosage that
seems consistent is the length of the trip. 100 mcg. Iasts me 5 to 6 hours,
200 mcg. - 8 to 10 hours, large doses have lasted up to 20 hours.
LSD has the ability of allowing one's mind to penetrate things very
deeply. I find this most prevalent listening to music, looking at artwork,
or making love. With LSD one can "lock on" to something like a piece of
music and allow it to guide them on a sensual journey through a garden
of liquid sound. One can lavish a feeling, thought pattern, or emotion
with similar intensity. It's also possible to latch on to negative feelings. If
one finds themself on a downward spiral they can usually redirect their
awareness to something else with little effort. Most people tend to spend
the majority of their experience in a positive groove, because once in it
they can remain there effortlessly for hours. The negative aspects of
LSD's signature that many users report are a " metallic edge " (a slight
grating on the nerves), and sometimes an overbearing intensity that some
psychedelics, such as mushrooms, tend not to produce.
To get an idea of how diverse LSD experiences can be, (or psychedelic
experiences in general) I've listed several publications in the bibliography
that contain lucid descriptions of powerful experiences. One such
description that I've included here is the first LSD experience of Stanislav
Grof. Stan Grof became one of the premier psychiatric LSD researchers
during the early Sixties. His current non-drug therapy, known as
Holotropic Breathwork, has produced powerful "transpersonal"
experiences in many people. Following is Grof's description of his first
LSD experience in 1956 [2].
"I couldn't believe how much I learned about my psyche in those few
hours. I experienced a fantastic display of colorful visions, some abstract
and geometrical, others figurative and filled with symbolic import. The
sheer intensity of the array of emotions I felt simply amazed me. I was hit
by a radiance that seemed comparable to the epicenter of a nuclear
explosion, or perhaps the light of supernatural brilliance said in oriental
Occasionally with large doses of LSD, and less frequently with other
psychedelics, one will encounter what is known as the "Clear Light" or
"White Light." This is perceived as a supernaturally brilliant and blazing
pure light which radiates from within. The feeling which accompanies
being in the presence of the Clear Light is almost always described as
divine bliss. The experience of the Clear Light can only be attained by
going through a full ego death. This process is described in detail in the
book The Psychedelic Experience.
COMBINATIONS:
HARMALA ALKALOIDS - Harmala will add a unique dimension to
an acid experience. I find that it infuses the trip with a mystical and
ancient quality. While on acid I normally feel like I'm interfacing with
my own mind, but with Harmala it feels like I'm in contact with the
invisible world of Spirits. An even greater degree of synergism exists
between Harmala and the tryptamine psychedelics, psilocybin and DMT.
the flowing, intricate visuals which are characteristic of DMT. The acid
essentially puts me on a higher platform for launching into the DMT.
And the "open mind" state produced by the acid allows me to experience
the DMT that much more. See the chapter on DMT.
PSILOCYBIN
MUSHROOMS
THE EXTRATERRESTRIAL
INFLITRATION OF EARTH?
MATERIAL:
There are dozens of species of mushrooms which contain the
psychoactive alkaloids psilocybin/psilocin in active amounts. 99% of the
psilocybin mushrooms I've seen sold on the underground market are the
variety known as Psilocybe cubensis (also called Stropharia cubensis),
and dosage levels discussed below pertain to this variety. Some species
of psilocybin mushrooms contain up to 10 times as much psilocybin by
weight as cubensis, producing an equivalent experience at a much lower
dose.
HISTORY:
The use of psilocybin mushrooms can be traced back thousands of
years. In Plants of the Gods, Schultes and Hofmann trace the use of these
mushrooms to numerous locations and Indian cultures in pre-Colombian
Mexico and South America. The Indians held the mushrooms with such
reverence that the Aztecs named them Teonanacatl, meaning "flesh of
the gods" or "divine flesh." Sacred objects relating to mushrooms, such as
the mushroom stones shown above, have been found dating back as far as
1000 B.C.
million year period from when Earth's crust cooled until evidence of the
first living organisms were found. The theory of "panspermia" has been
suggested to account for this. Studies conducted by astrophysicists at the
University of Leiden in Netherlands have determined that certain
mushroom spores could survive up to 45 million years in interstellar
transit. (see Nature - Aug 1, 1985).
DOSAGE:
Although some users eat just one gram of "shrooms," dried weight, I
find this produces little more than threshold effects. Two grams should
produce a mild psychedelic high, five grams should produce an
experience of similar intensity to a 250 mcg. LSD trip. (Five grams of
dried Psilocybe cubensis typically contains about 15 mg. of psilocybin/
psilocin.) At 10 to 14 grams I've had experiences which are quite
incredible. The potency of different batches of mushrooms varies, usually
within a range of +/-10%, although I've come across some strains that
were nearly twice as potent as standard. Mushrooms lose potency with
age (about 25% in six months.) They will keep much longer if stored in
an airtight container in the freezer. Fresh mushrooms should be dried at a
low temperature, around 95 degrees F, to preserve their potency.
THE HIGH:
Mushrooms produce an experience similar to LSD but with a different
signature. The mushroom high tends to be dreamy and drifty in
comparison to the penetrating brilliance and lucidity of acid. Users report
feeling more relaxed on shrooms, sometimes even drowsy, rather than the
speedy, edgy feeling common with acid. The average shroom trip lasts
five to seven hours, with the most intense and visually hallucinogenic
part of the experience taking place during the first two hours.
The content of a mushroom trip is also a bit different than acid, and as
with all psychedelics, each trip is a unique experience. Frequently users
claim that shrooms put them more in touch with the "mystery," feeling
acid to be cold and linear in comparison. With mushrooms I've often felt
that I'm in the presence of an ancient teacher, whereas with LSD, it can
feel like I'm simply traversing my own mental pathways.
A large dose experience with mushrooms can feel quite similar to N,N-
DMT, (dimethyltryptamine) but with much less intensity. The visuals
tend to have the same character as DMT visuals, and I find that I easily
go into trance, which is frequent with N,N-DMT. The similarity in
experiences is not unexpected since mushrooms actually contain long-
lasting tryptamines. The chemical formula of psilocin, the active
component of the mushroom, is 4-OH-DMT. See the chapter on DMT for
more information on this fascinating substance.
I've used LSD more often than mushrooms because it's suitable to
COMBINATIONS:
HARMALA ALKALOIDS - Harmala combines beautifully with
mushrooms to produce a very mystical experience. When harmaline was
first discovered it was named telepathine because of its reputation for
producing telepathic experiences. These telepathic experiences are
supposed to be especially likely to occur when Harmala is combined with
psilocybin. I personally haven't experienced telepathy, although I've
found the combination quite enjoyable. Following is a report of a friend's
Harmala plus mushroom expenence.
"The most beautiful and refined interlocking patterns covered the floor,
walls, and ceiling of my room. These visuals were so astounding that I
would have been more than content with them, but the experience grew
even more incredible. I began to feel as though my room was filled with
the "spirits" of musicians, artists, and visionaries whose genius had most
strongly affected my life. And I felt as though I were amongst friends.
This filled me with elation twice as strong as anything I'd felt on ecstasy,
and for a while nothing seemed impossible anywhere in the world.
Things gradually deconstructed into a slowly swirling astral whirlpool,
and beyond. It was by far one of the most amazing psychedelic
experiences I've had, and was all there simply by adding the Harmala."
MATERIAL:
Mescaline is a naturally occurring psychedelic found in several cactus
species, most notably, Peyote (Lophophora williamsii) and San Pedro
(Trichocereus pachanoi). Several other members of the trichocereus
family also contain mescaline.
HISTORY:
Peyote and San Pedro are New World psychedelics. In ancient times
their use was concentrated in the regions to which they are native. Peyote
was used throughout Mexico to as far north as Texas, San Pedro in the
Andes mountain region of South America. The earliest known depiction
of San Pedro cactus is on a stone tablet found in Peru dating to 1300 B.C.
Ritual objects containing images of Peyote have been found dating back
to 500 B.C. The introduction of Peyote into the U.S. and Canada, and its
use by North American Indian tribes, occurred much more recently,
beginning sometime in the late 1800s.
SOURCES:
In the U.S. Peyote is illegal for all but members of the Native
American Church, and it is seldom seen in the psychedelic underground.
Apparently there is even becoming a shortage for the Native American
population, since the cactus grows at a very slow rate. A typical 2"
diameter Peyote button may require 20 years to reach that size, and it has
been harvested much faster than it can grow for many years.
Illegal drug labs rarely produce mescaline for the underground market
because of its inefficiency, high cost, and lack of a market. It requires
approximately 1/2 gram of mescaline sulfate to produce a psychedelic
trip. This same amount of material would represent 4 doses of ecstasy, 20
doses of 2C-B, 50 doses of psilocin, or 2500 doses of LSD. And without
the large market of substances like ecstasy, smaller, less efficient batches
must be produced, raising the cost of production even higher. The small
amount of mescaline that is produced for the psychedelic underground
typically fetches from $100 to $200 per gram, ($50 to $100 per dose),
clearly too expensive to become a popular street drug.
These are approximately 1/4" long and look like fine needles or shards of
glass. The amount of mescaline needed for a high can fill two double 0
gelatin caps. Those who claim they've had mescaline in tiny microdot
pills, or as a white powder in a capsule where only 1/8th of a gram
produced a powerful experience, have been given something other than
real mescaline. Another form of mescaline which I've never tried,
mescaline hydrochloride, is said to be about 25% more potent than
mescaline sulfate.
If the cacti sellers do not know people are buying their cacti for
psychoactive purposes it is less likely to become an issue with the
authorities. And since this magical plant is one of my favorite "legal"
highs, I'd like to see it remain legal and available indefinitely.
Trichocereus cacti are considered legal for ornamental purposes only. It
is illegal to ingest, extract, or sell for psychoactive purposes: a fairly gray
area of the law.
To prepare San Pedro for consumption I first cut out the spines, which
is fairly easy to do on most trichocereus. The next step I take is to cut the
skin off in "V" strips, cutting from the outside of each rib into the central
section of the cactus. These "V" strips are saved as they contain the most
potent flesh, although the skin itself is thick, waxy and not edible.
The dark green flesh next to the skin is the most potent part of the
cactus and should be eaten first. I do this by flattening out the "V" strips
and scraping the flesh off of the skin with my teeth. I then proceed to the
central part of the cactus. This should be eaten around like corn on the
cob. The flesh on the protruding ribs should be eaten first. The core is
woody and not edible. The high begins coming on some 45 minutes after
ingesting, and since it takes a while to consume the cactus, one may start
feeling high while they are still eating.
Peyote is even more difficult to eat than San Pedro as the taste is
extremely bitter. Some people find that by accepting the flavor and not
cringing from it they are able to get past any aversion to eating it. One
friend even told me that dried Peyote took on the flavor and consistency
of good chocolate. However, those like myself who find the taste
intolerable can pulverize the dried buttons and pack them into gelatin
capsules.
THE HIGH:
The mescaline experience is my favorite of the traditional psychedelics
(LSD, psilocybin, mescaline). I find it has the advantages of acid: a lucid,
penetrating, focused ability of the mind, rather than the more dreamy,
drifting state I get from mushrooms. However, I feel totally relaxed with
mescaline, even calmer than I feel on mushrooms, and there's no trace of
the metallic edge usually felt on acid.
Some aspects of the mescaline high are quite distinct from LSD or
mushrooms. The visions produced by mescaline have a different
COMBINATIONS:
The Belladonna alkaloids are reputed to potentiate mescaline. I haven't
tried this.
The only mind that strayed from the meeting was my own. The
resounding drum thundered throughout my being. I could not distinguish
the hogan from the interior of my own skull. I drifted further away from
the meeting until I was completely unaware of sounds or the presence of
others. I walked over to a huge velvet curtain and as I touched it, it
slowly parted...
On the other side a magnificent world sprang up. This world was
sprinkled with little shining crystals, and the absolute silence lent itself to
All about were the most perfect cogs, too perfect to be known in my
everyday world. These cogs were spinning in opposing direction to one
another, with no other purpose than BEING. The universe was enclosed
in a huge round dome and contained millions of replicas of the same
world, each representing a different plane of consciousness.
I was living in a timeless pulsation that bridged the gap between all
barriers. I reached many eternities, and felt akin with infinity. At long last
I knew the relation all things had for one another!
I looked about me and felt more Indian than white as I was carried
along in the rhythm of the chants as we gave our combined thanks to
Pioniyo.
ECSTASY
THE HEART OPENING
PSYCHEDELIC
INTENSITY: 2 to 4
MATERIAL:
Ecstasy is a synthetic compound developed in 1914 as a potential
dietary aid. However, its psychoactive effects were not discovered until
the mid-Seventies. It was used widely in therapy from this time until
1985 when it was made illegal. Its chemical name is 3,4-
methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), commonly known as "X",
"E", or "Adam." It usually comes as a white crystalline powder or made
into tablets.
DOSAGE:
125 mg. (1/8th of a gram) is generally considered a single dose of
ecstasy. This amount will produce an experience lasting about four hours
total, with the intensity dropping off a couple hours into the high. Many
recreational X users do what's called "double dosing," taking an
additional 125 mg. as soon as the first dose starts wearing off. My
personal preference is to take one large dose of 150 to 170 mg. which
produces an intense but short lasting experience. I prefer this method
because it reduces the side effects a double dose of X can produce.
Ecstasy should be taken on an empty stomach. If one ingests it on a full
stomach they might not get high at all, or may have a delayed trip.
THE HIGH:
When ecstasy is coming on it feels fantastically exhilarating. Users
report feeling blissed out, energetic, and emotionally opened and loving.
The ride up usually lasts 30 minutes to an hour. One then reaches a
plateau where they'll be for the next one to two hours, followed by a slow
drift back to baseline. Taking multiple doses will change the timing of
these periods.
Most X users report that their first couple of experiences are like being
in heaven, and leave a strong impression. Experiences after this are still
enjoyable but can't match the initial ride. After numerous X trips, I've
concluded that lasting and beneficial experiences are derived primarily
from deep bonding with other people while one is high. Nearly all of my
better X experiences happened when I was with either one other person
or a small group of close friends. This framework for using ecstasy
closely parallels how it was used in therapeutic settings. Ecstasy's ability
to allow emotions to flow more easily and naturally, and to create an
atmosphere of nonjudgment and acceptance, is conducive to deep
bonding and healing. I find that the more general feeling of
"connectedness," which users report feeling with larger groups of people
at events such as raves, tends to dissipate, leaving one feeling hollow by
the time the drug wears off.
psychonaut.
Ecstasy rarely produces a bad experience, but there are some negative
aspects to ecstasy's signature. I find ecstasy can be one of the hardest
psychedelics to come down from, particularly if I've double dosed. I tend
to feel depressed as the blissful ecstasy feelings slip away. My previous
personality feels "sticky" at this point, and I feel I have less options
choosing my return personality than I would returning from the
traditional psychedelics. Ecstasy also produces some side effects: a
speedy feeling throughout the experience, often accompanied by jaw
clenching (it is in the amphetamine family), a loss of appetite, and
sometimes a hangover the next day.
SAFETY FACTORS:
Ecstasy is the only psychedelic I've used which leaves me feeling any
less than perfect the next day, and this experience seems to be common
among most users of ecstasy. Based on this, I suspect that ecstasy is not
the most benign substance to take into one's body, and I've reduced my
consumption to an infrequent basis.
There have been a few cases of people who died from heat stroke
following the use of ecstasy in dance clubs. They became dehydrated
after dancing for hours without drinking any fluids. Although this is rare,
it's a reminder for one to pay attention to their body's basic needs while
using ecstasy or any other substance.
I've read numerous clinical articles on ecstasy. There does not appear
to be conclusive evidence one way or the other as to whether it causes
any type of damage to humans, or whether any potential damage caused
is permanent or reversible. However, many who are concerned with safe
use have gleaned suggestions from these articles.
animals.
The Prozac can be taken up to six hours after the ecstasy. I've taken
Prozac toward the end of about 20 X trips, and in most cases I've felt
better the next day than I normally do after taking ecstasy alone. Prozac
is considered a controversial drug. Some of the people to whom it was
prescribed on a regular basis claim it gave them suicidal tendencies.
Apparently a small percentage of the people who try Prozac have some
type of negative mental reaction. Several people I know have first tried
Prozac by itself, to see what their reaction to it is, before taking it at the
end of an ecstasy trip.
COMBINATIONS:
LSD - Ecstasy is frequently taken with LSD, a combination commonly
known as "candyflip." I find the feelings produced by this combination
can be much deeper and more visual than on ecstasy alone. But since the
ecstasy has a much heavier signature than the acid, I tend to experience
more of an intensified ecstasy high, and lose the depth I would
experience on acid alone. If taken around the same time, the ecstasy will
wear off first, while the residual high from the acid provides for a
smoother recovery.
nitrous oxide.
2C-B
THE EROTIC EMPATHOGEN
SAFETY FACTORS:
2C-B is highly dosage sensitive. Taking an amount just slightly above
the recommended dose can produce an intense experience that most
people find forced and unpleasant. With any substance there are a few
people who will exhibit unusually high or low sensitivity. Therefore, in
order to avoid an undesirably intense experience, many users start with a
small dose of 2C-B, around 8 mg., and work their way up.
INTENSITY:
2 to 7, varying with the dosage and the individual's sensitivity to this
compound.
MATERIAL:
THE HIGH:
My experiences with 2C-B have been quite varied. With a low,
"museum level" dose, I experience what resembles a speedy acid high
hardly worth discussing. It is when I take a somewhat larger dose that the
unique aspects of this substance begin to manifest. It is definitely an "up"
experience. There is lots of physical energy. The visual aspect can be
extraordinary, with intense vivid colors and intricate patterning that is
reminiscent of mescaline visuals and seems charged with electricity. In
one experience the visuals appeared as complete chaos before becoming
a portion of a vast cosmic order. On a good dose of 2C-B I'm content to
just lay back for hours and trip on watching my mind.
On some occasions 2C-B has given me visibility into what I will call
the "assembly" or "machine" language of the mind. As an example, if you
see the number 3, the typical response is to identify the symbol as the
number 3, and think about its meaning within the context you are seeing
it. On a finer scale, many thousands of neurons are connected in the
Like ecstasy, 2C-B can not match the depth, purity, or realism of the
traditional psychedelics. However, it is much more psychedelic than
ecstasy, and its unique attributes make it an interesting substance to
explore. One of 2C-B's unique attributes is that it simultaneously
strengthens certain aspects of the ego or identity while dissolving others.
For myself and many friends who've used 2C-B this has resulted in a
highly positive influence on our self-image, both during and after the
experience, including the idea that the physical body is a sacred
manifestation of the creative consciousness.
Although I have yet to see this amongst the 2C-B users I know, I
suspect that for less balanced or grounded individuals 2C-B could
strengthen negative aspects of the ego, thereby producing the type of
changes one often sees in amphetamine users.
COMBINATIONS:
Ecstasy - 2C-B is frequently combined with ecstasy. In therapeutic use
the 2C-B is generally taken at the tail end of the ecstasy experience.
Many people have found that 2C-B allows them to develop and retain the
insights from the ecstasy experience which would otherwise have a
tendency to slip away. I've also had excellent results taking a small
amount of ecstasy (80 mg.) some 1 1/2 hours after the 2C-B. This
produces a trip with an incredibly deep empathogenic content that I have
never experienced on either of the substances alone.
DMT
CANDY FOR THE MIND
INTENSITY: 9 to 10
SAFETY FACTORS:
5-MeO-DMT is an MAO inhibitor. See list of items not to take with
MAO inhibitors on page 19. Since DMT takes effect almost immediately,
users normally lie down or sit in a reclining position prior to taking a hit.
One will neither be able to stand up, or have the ability to recognize their
surroundings if they get a good hit.
MATERIAL:
N,N-Dimethyltryptamine and 5-Methoxy-Dimethyltryptamine are
naturally occurring psychedelics found in a variety of plants around the
world, several of which are native to the Amazon region. These alkaloids,
which are usually found together in the plants, are also found in the
human brain as neurotransmitters, as well as m our blood, urine, and
spinal fluid [1]. DMT is produced in the human pineal gland which is
correlated to the "3rd eye" or Ajna Chakra in the Indian spiritual system.
Meditative states attained by yogis who concentrate on the 3rd eye may
be the result of increased DMT levels. DMT is produced in heavy
concentration in the glands of some tropical toads, such as Bufo Alvarius.
Some people actually make a practice of squeezing out this venom, then
drying and smoking it to get high.
HISTORY:
There are several plant sources of DMT, many of which have uniquely
How the natives discovered this combination boggles the mind. The
healers and shamans that work with Ayahuasca claim that the spirits of
the plants talk to them, telling them which plants to use in their brews,
and which plants will heal various diseases. I believe their claims, since
they certainly didn't have modern technical knowledge to predict the
results of such combinations. And it's unlikely they could have tried all of
the combinations of the thousands of plants growing in the Amazon
jungle. I've also noticed increased synergy with plant consciousness in
my own DMT experiments.
Glass pipes can be difficult to find. Many head shops don't sell them
since they are often used for crack cocaine. A pipe made of another
material will work, but does not allow one to look into the bowl to
monitor the melting/vaporization of the DMT, and to see if it's leaking
through the screen and running down the stem of the pipe. I also enjoy
watching the intricate patterns of the DMT recrystallizing inside the stem,
and more importantly, once enough has collected on the inside of the
stem, I can heat up a glass pipe for a few good hits.
THE HIGH:
The highs from N,N-DMT and 5-MeO-DMT are similar yet have some
distinct differences. The typical DMT tryp is an order of magmtude more
potent than a trip on the traditional psychedelics (LSD, psilocybin or
mescaline). When smoking DMT the high comes on within about 30
seconds. Within the next 30 seconds I am propelled to a high as intense
as the peak of a 1000+ mcg. acid trip. Generally by this point I will be
completely out of my body and unaware of my physical surroundings.
This intense part of the experience, although seeming timeless while I'm
in it, lasts only 2 to 5 minutes. I then drift back quickly to regular
consciousness. On 5-MeO I am back within 20 minutes, with N.N.I am
back in 30 minutes. In the Sixties DMT was called "The businessman's
lunch trip."
What I've described about DMT so far can be applied to both varieties.
However, some characteristics of the two are quite different. I had been
using 5-MeO-DMT for a few years before obtaining any N,N-DMT.
After I first tried N,N-DMT I concluded that 5-MeO-DMT feels like
sheer force, whereas N,N-DMT feels like sheer perfection.
5-MeO-DMT is the more potent of the two in terms of: the size of the
dose required, how quickly it comes on and how forcefully it blows apart
my universe. On 5-MeO I can literally feel my mind exploding and
expanding outward to encompass first the area near me, then the planet,
and eventually the cosmos. This takes place over a span of 15 seconds or
so.
5-MeO increases pulse rate and blood pressure, more so than N,N-
DMT, but not to the extent as a whiff of amyl nitrite. 5-MeO can also
produce breathing irregularities which may take some getting used to. If
one does not get a good dose of 5-MeO all they will feel are some bodily
symptoms, and a slight alteration of consciousness especially in the
visual field. A small dose of N,N-DMT will stili produce a psychedelic
trip, but without the intensity and depth of a full-dose experience.
died in the light. Melt down - feels like drowning and being electrocuted
at the same time. Some fear is good though, and pretty soon the skull
clown swarm had laughed me through death to a place of jeweled coiling
roots and capillaries, swaying endlessly in a gem lit sea... The glowing,
ember-like afterimage instantly swirls and shatters into blue and red
sizzling domes that pinwheel ecstatically into a Creative, God-Thing with
a trillion jeweled eyes that dissolves into an atomic ocean. This is the
multi-eyed God that is my Creator, Master, Destroyer. I am nothing
compared to this Thing which has no ego boundaries whatsoever and can
turn into anything it damn well wishes, even death itself if it wants to!"
With DMT one tends not to go through the personality breakdown and
rebuilding process that takes place with the traditional psychedelics. Or if
one does go through it, the process is so quick they tend not to notice it
happening. Under the force of DMT one must relax, release, and let it
come over them. Trying to resist DMT's overwhelming influence and the
inevitable dissolution of the identity will be unpleasant, and it won't
work. A DMT tryp tends to be out of body, out of personality, and
sometimes outside of the mind. For these reasons some people I know
who've used DMT do not consider it a good tool for psychological
development. The DMT experience can be like a quick trip to the void or
the funhouse. Since it is so different than normal reality it can be difficult
for the user to bring any of the tryp back to daily life. However, this
changes significantly when DMT is done in combination with the
Harmala alkaloids.
Prior to smoking or ingesting the DMT one should wait until they are
feeling the effects of the Harmala alkaloids. This will prevent the DMT
from being metabolized prematurely. (See chapter on Harmala alkaloids.)
Harmala only slightly intensifies 5-MeO-DMT. Therefore, one still needs
to smoke 5 mg. or so to get a powerful high. It does, however, prolong
the normally 2-3 minute peak to 10-20 minutes, with the total experience
lasting between 40 minutes and two hours.
Some users feel that the DMT high is "warbly" in combination with
Harmala and lacks the "Diamond Consciousness" of DMT alone. Since
Harmala slows the onset of 5-MeO-DMT so drastically, I've found that I
lose much of the brilliance that can be experienced using 5-MeO-DMT
alone. However, I don't find that Harmala produces any degradation of
the N.N. DMT experience. N,N-DMT is like a rocket to another
dimension, with or without the Harmala alkaloids.
HARMALA ALKALOIDS
LINK TO THE
ANCIENT SPIRITS
INTENSITY:
1 to 2. Harmala alkaloids are usually not potent psychedelics when
taken alone. Their main use is to potentiate other psychedelics.
SAFETY FACTORS:
Harmala alkaloids are MAO inhibitors. See list of items not to take
with MAO inhibitors in the Safety chapter. The Harmala alkaloids are
emetics and can produce intense nausea if used in large amounts.
MATERIAL:
The Harmala alkaloids: harmine, harmaline, tetrahydroharmine... are
found in a variety of plants. The most notorious of these is Banisteriopsis
caapi, a vine native to the Amazon region which is an active ingredient
of the "Ayahuasca" or "Yage" brews of the Native South Americans.
Reports from Gracie and Zarkov's Notes From the Underground and
Jonathan Ott's Pharmacotheon indicate that the bark of Banisteriopsis
caapi contains between .2 and 1.3% mixed Harmala alkaloids.
SOURCES:
Banisteriopsis caapi must normally be procured in the Amazon jungle.
On rare occasions it is sold by specialty plant and herb dealers who
Peganum harmala seed can be picked wild in many of the areas listed
above. It can also be procured from specialty seed and herb dealers, and
occasionally as stock for making dye. Some seed dealers will not ship
Syrian Rue seed to California since a "noxious weed" law prohibits this.
Apparently Syrian Rue is a hardy plant and will take over other
vegetation if planted in the same area.
THE HIGH:
The Harmala experience by itself is generally quite mild, although
some acquaintances of mine have obtained full psychedelic effects from
Syrian Rue and other sources of Harmala can also be extracted. Gracie
and Zarkov used vodka as a solvent. The extract I tried has some
advantages over the seed form. It can be smoked, which produces a very
nice high and comes on within minutes. And the extract, smoked or
ingested, seems to produce less nausea and other physical symptoms for
the same intensity of high. However, smoking Harmala won't produce as
long-lasting an effect as ingesting, when used alone as well as when used
to enhance other psychedelics.
COMBINATIONS:
Harmala potentiates many psychedelics. It has a long history of use as
a main ingredient in Ayahuasca or Yage where it was included to
potentiate and enhance DMT. In fact, these brews would have been
impotent without the addition of Harmala since DMT is not normally
active when taken orally. Harmala inhibits enzymes which normally
destroy DMT in the stomach before it can reach the brain. Harmala also
reduces the speed at which DMT is metabolized within the brain.
KETAMINE
THE ULTIMATE
PSYCHEDELIC JOURNEY
INTENSITY: 10 - Infinity
MATERIAL:
Ketamine is a general anesthetic manufactured by Parke Davis and
marketed as Ketalar. It is also distributed by several smaller
pharmaceutical companies. The Parke Davis Ketamine comes in a multi-
use sealed vial, generally containing 500 mg. Ketamine is also used as
veterinarian anesthetic, and occasionally it is sold in powder form on the
underground market.
HISTORY:
Ketamine is used clinically as a general anesthetic. It is considered a
"gentle" anesthetic and is often given to children and elderly people. Its
psychedelic characteristics were discovered after a large number of
recipients reported "reemergence" experiences while coming out of the
anesthesia. Further experiments showed that a dose much smaller than
the anesthetic dose produces a psychedelic experience of incredible
intensity.
pharmaceutical vial and does not contain the impurities often found in
"street drugs." Ketamine is routinely administered at a much higher
dosage as a clinical anesthetic, and is considered a safe and gentle
anesthetic, therefore there is little risk of an overdose. Ketamine is
normally taken intramuscularly rather than intravenously. The
psychedelic self-experimenter John Lilly injected Ketamine in himself 24
times a day for several consecutive months without significant difficulties
(see John Lilly's - The Scientist). By all means anyone injecting any
substance should use only a new, sealed hypodermic syringe and never
share with even a close friend. The risk of contracting a disease like
AIDS is by far the greatest risk in using a needle. I feel that the Ketamine
experience was worth overcoming my fear of needles, although many
who have wanted to try Ketamine but can't overcome this fear have
snorted it for a less intense experience.
THE HIGH:
Ketamine is the most intense, bizarre, and enjoyable psychedelic I've
tried, and this perception is common among the people I know who've
used it. The Ketamine high comes on about two minutes after injecting.
One should be lying down or reclining at this time, because on a regular
psychedelic dose they will be unconscious of their body shortly after
this.
After this comes the return to regular consciousness, which begins with
one perception out of each million seeming like it's within my familiar
perceptual structure. These "personal perceptions" increase in frequency,
one every 100,000, one every 10,000. Soon I remember my previous
identity. I've never felt this moment as disappointing, as I frequently feel
when coming down from ecstasy. When I realize I'm coming back it feels
more novel like "Wow, I'm coming back, I wonder what life is going to
be like after this experience." Although there is a feeling that the ride's
almost over this part of the experience is quite interesting, with part of
my mind still running circles around the cosmos, and another part
reintegrating with my identity. Often I experience the return portion of
the Ketamine Journey as an alien rebirth experience. Upon returning to
the body, visuals will continue for a while with eyes opened. These can
be quite spectacular and hallucinatory, and bear more resemblance to
DMT visuals than other psychedelic visuals.
I've observed a fairly mixed response in others I know who have tried
Ketamine. It seems that people either love it, and think it's the greatest
stuff in the universe, or feel uninspired by it. From speaking with
numerous people who've tried it, it's clear that most have had experiences
similar to what I've described, while others describe much less
fascinating results. After taking Ketamine some 100 times I've noticed
that it's fairly easy to miss the mark, and wind up with an experience that
is nothing like what I've described above.
The main trick to hitting the mark with a Ketamine trip is taking the
correct dose. Too small an amount will not obliterate one's self-
awareness, and will fail to admit one into the realm of pure awareness.
Too much will bring one towards unconsciousness, giving one the
vaguest impressions of having traveled somewhere. Many have had
successful journeys by starting with 75 mg., and increasing the dose by
15 mg. on each separate occasion until the desired experience is reached.
If one takes Ketamine while already high on a psychedelic, such as 2C-B
or LSD, the "dosage window" for achieving a spectacular Ketamine
journey is significantly wider.
SAFETY FACTORS:
Ketamine is extremely different than other psychedelics when it
comes to safe use. Since injection is usually involved, the purity of one's
material, and safe use of needles is paramount. Equally important is that
one not undertake any bodily activity that could be dangerous while on
Ketamine. A psychedelic dose of Ketamine moves one towards a state of
unconsciousness where a surgeon could operate on them. The normal
reaction abilities that prevent us from accidents and death are suspended
while on Ketamine. When I take Ketamine I'm always Iying down, and
do not get up until the tail end of the experience. Even for a few hours
afterwards I will not go outdoors where potentially lethal traffic is
passing by. However, for people who do not "program" themselves to
spend the Ketamine experience in a comatose state, it may be possible to
get up and walk around while quite high.
COMBINATIONS:
Ketamine can be combined with most other psychedelics. However,
after much experimentation I've decided against using it with any natural
psychedelics. While I did have some positive experiences with such
combinations early on, eventually I began seeing many negative effects,
and felt that it was inappropriate, or at least that I was not ready, to
combine substances of these types.
MULTIPLE COMBINATIONS
COSMIC SYNERGISM
SAFETY FACTORS:
All of the multiple combinations listed here I have tried in my personal
experiments. Some of these combinations may not have been tried by
anyone but myself, and they may affect other people differently. Those
who use multiple combinations typically exercise a high degree of
caution, especially with MAO inhibitors. These combinations can be very
heavy, both physically and mentally.
The Ludiomil took effect some 15 minutes after ingesting, and the
change was quite apparent. It intensified the acid high and produced what
The most spectacular part of this journey came later when I took a
balloon of nitrous oxide. I have tried nitrous with virtually every
psychedelic and every combination. I thought I knew the limits of the
nitrous experience and was quite unprepared for the remarkable
transformation that took place. I can only describe it as a totally hilarious,
melting through the bottom of the universe as it all came swirling down
into me. The "melting" sensation of this experience was most distinct
from the common nitrous high.
LSD + Ketamine -
This experience took place while I was backpacking in Death Valley
Using psychedelics in natural environments, and in solitude, tends to
produce intense experiences. However, taking psychedelics in the
wilderness can be dangerous for someone who is not experienced with
both psychedelic use and in surviving harsh terrain. Psychedelics can
easily disrupt several basic survival instincts, such as sense of direction
and sense of time. The unique portion of this experience came during the
LSD trip. I had ingested some 350 mcg., an amount which for me
normally produces only peripheral visual phenomenon.
By the time the full moon was high in the sky I had hiked to the salt
flats and administered Ketamine while at the lowest elevation in the
United States. I felt that I became part of the earth and penetrated to
levels deep within the "mind" of the planetary consciousness. Becoming
part of the earth's spirit is something frequently experienced by myself
and others while on Ketamine.
There was a brief moment in this experience that was lucid and quite
marvelous. During this period the universes of both the 2C-B experience
and the mushroom experience were available simultaneously, as though
two different "parallel realities" were coexisting in the same physical
space-time, and I was able to move about these two universes freely.
Based on this short experience of a unique and useful state of mind, I
decided that the next time I tried this combination I would try a much
larger dose of each substance.
experiences had changed my life, how valuable they had been to me, and
how sacred the opportunity to experience these states of consciousness
was. I also prayed that this mind-altering substance would become
available to me again. Anyway, when I sat to meditate and pray, the
energy became so intense and focused that I was absolutely amazed. My
abilities in meditation and concentration have waned over the past few
years, but at that moment I felt like I could wield my will and mind like
Luke Skywalker wields his light stick in Star Wars. This force was so
strong that it was frightening.
The second time I tried 2C-B + mushrooms was seven months later.
For my second journey I took 50 mg. of 2C-B and 10 grams of
mushrooms, doses large enough to do the trick for me. However, the
experience produced by taking a aufficient dose was strongly negative. I
felt as though a mesh of interference patterns was placed before my
awareness, obscuring all thought and perception. It seemed like the 2C-B
and mushrooms were trying to alter my consciousness in opposing
directions, and they frustrated each other's efforts. I also had a feeling
that I was hexed, that there was some force preventing me from venturing
into an expanded state of awareness.
2C-B + Ketamine -
2C-B and Ketamine produce highs which are quite different. Taken in
combination it feels like two streams crossing at right angles, thereby
producing a uniquely new universe of experience. This combination
works well with either a small or large dose of Ketamine (25 mg. to 100
mg.) With a smaller dose of Ketamine I do not go on the Ketamine
journey, but the relaxed immersion in flowing psychedelic mental
fireworks is most enjoyable. When used with 2C-B, the Ketamine
recovery period is also diminished, with ease of movement, no feeling of
nausea, and sometimes incredible physical energy. I have frequently
emerged from the Ketamine journey and immediately begun dancing
about like a whirling dervish, or assuming yogic asanas where intense
subtle energies were traversing and harmonizing within my body.
FURTHER EXPLORATIONS
There are numerous possible answers to these questions, and how the
future develops is dependent on the decisions and actions of people in the
world today. One possible scenario for the future is that all countries will
become police states, psychedelic use will be completely suppressed, and
life on this planet will be totally destroyed through nuclear or chemical
warfare, or through the poisoning of earth's environment. I prefer to
consider the brighter alternatives and attempt to do my part, however
small, to make them reality.
Within the current situation, anyone who wants drugs can find most
items with little difficulty. The users are subject to highly inflated prices,
possibly impure substances, the risk of arrest, and sometimes need to deal
with criminal elements to obtain the drugs. There is a void of accurate
unbiased information available to those who use or wish to use drugs, and
the cultural attitude toward drug use is quite negative. The public is put at
risk due to the violence that occurs in black-market drug wars. And since
the price of drugs is inflated, addicts of certain substances must
frequently steal to support their habit. All this could immediately end if
drugs were legalized.
The only people who benefit from drugs being illegal are the drug
dealers, and government agencies that can confiscate and keep the
possessions of drug users. (Often possessions are confiscated from those
only suspected of being involved with drugs.) Politicians in several third-
world countries have been found to be profiting from the illicit drug
trade. And I will be surprised if time does not reveal that many politicians
of this country, who are publicly preaching against drugs, are secretly
reaping profits from the illegal drug trade as well. That these politicians
are also passing laws that allow the confiscation of a drug user's property
makes this an even greater conspiracy. And don't forget that political
power controls the media, which in turn influences the opinion of the
masses.
psychedelics.
With the proper perspective in place we can take a closer look at what
psychedelics have to offer.
Psychedelics can also give one's mind a focusing and resolving ability
comparable to a microscope's ability to render visible what could not
otherwise be seen. One can focus the mind into the realm of thought for
deep philosophizing, or turn it toward perceptions for a richer experience.
The enhanced perception common while listening to music on
psychedelics makes a good example of this resolving ability. The sound
of a large musical ensemble is normally too thick to distinguish all the
details of the sound. Listening to the same piece of music on LSD one is
able to hear many more distinct instruments, possibly down to the
individual notes. Frequently LSD will help me to distinguish Iyrics in
music which I could not distinguish in a sober state of mind. Listening to
music in a psychedelicized state can also allow one to gain a deeper
experience of the music and a greater understanding of what the
musicians are trying to convey. This clearer perception of the artist's
intent results from more of a "soul-to- soul" connection, and is not
entirely based on the increased auditory sensitivity and resolving power
of the mind.
normally someone can recognize the tree as a tree, see its leaves and
overall shape, or concentrate on any section of the tree. However, it is
beyond most people's ability to simultaneously perceive each of the
100,000 or so leaves that are actually making up the image. With
psychedelics one can perceive significantly more than in normal
awareness. This can be most spectacular in a beautiful natural setting
such as the coast line or the Grand Canyon. Experiments with LSD in the
Sixties found an average increase of ten points in the I.Q. test results of
those administered LSD [1]. This presents a massive potential for
increasing one's intelligence.
A MAGICAL LINK
After about four months of use I began to lose some of the rapport I
had experienced with DMT, accompanied by a reduction in the frequency
of my use.
However, the results were entirely different than what I'd expected,
and completely unlike any of my previous DMT experiences. I felt a deep
fear which is hard to speak of. I sensed the presence of death, despair,
and loneliness. I felt haunted by some mysterious evil, and I thought of
the word "spooky" to describe the unsettling feeling this experience left
me with. The feeling of "enchantment," which is normally delightful on
DMT, had become something sinister. And I was quite baMed as to how
this occurred.
The third stop of my journey was in Sedona where I hiked into the red
rock cliffs. Not one to be intimidated by any psychedelic experience, I
tried smoking DMT again. This experience was even more frightening
than the last. I was overwhelmed by dread and terror. And although it
was a cool March evening at 7,000 ft. elevation, I produced so much
sweat on my forehead that it dripped down my face while the rest of my
body remained dry. I've heard the analogy of someone being so scared
they produced beads of sweat on their forehead, but I never knew this
was literally possible.
I saved the Grand Canyon for the last portion of my journey, since I
knew that no other sight could match its spectacular beauty and intensity.
A few years back I had a wonderful experience taking acid
Some people claim that LSD is too cold and synthetic to provide a
mystical nature experience. I have not heard this from anyone who's
dropped acid and hiked into the Grand Canyon, although I noticed an
even larger amount of synergy when I had the opportunity to take
synthetic mescaline in the Canyon a couple years later.
It was a clear, cool May night beneath a new moon when my relation
with DMT took a turn. I had joined a group of friends for a boat ride up
the Petaluma River off of San Francisco Bay. I'm not much of a seafarer
and had never tripped on a boat before. The majority of my boating
experience has been on the choppy waters of the sea or the bay, and the
thought of spending a trip poking over the side of a boat never much
appealed to me. This evening I was in for a surprise!
I had brought along some acid and a bit of DMT. I had no intention of
pre-dosing with Harmala alkaloids and smoking enough DMT for the full
effects, but I thought that some light DMT "dusting" may be enjoyable
for all. We cruised up the river for an hour or so and threw the anchor.
There we would float for the next nine hours under a sky full of stars and
where the current flowing downstream mingled with the ebb and flow of
the tide in San Francisco Bay.
I began the evening by dropping 250 mics of acid. This was consumed
by nearly all present. I then took a hit of ecstasy since they were being
passed around. And after I mentioned that I brought some DMT, one of
my friends whipped out some ground Syrian Rue seeds and a pipe.
I was the first to take a hit of DMT, probably about 15 mg. worth. I
took my hit in the cabin of the boat and was rewarded with beautiful and
enchanting visions. None of the menace that had plagued my recent DMT
tryps was present, and the luxurious and magical qualities had returned. I
continued to load small hits of DMT in the p~pe and pass it amongst my
friends, each of whom reported a serene and beautiful experience.
Before taking my second hit I left the cabin of the boat, snuggled under
blankets with friends, and ventured into the brisk air outside on the deck.
I had been planning to take my second hit Iying on the roof of the boat
looking up at the stars. However, one member of our group just had his
first-ever DMT experience while on the deck of the boat. And after
listening to his fanatical hooting, hollering, and raving about how "it
started with the patterns in the water and went up into the air, then it
came down from the stars and connected in the sky...", I decided to take
my second hit while looking out over the water.
I smoked my hit and the effect was truly magical. Although I was not
too high to observe my surroundings, the experience had all the qualities
that I desire in DMT. The profound effect the water imparted to my
experience was immediately obvious. The current, tide, and wind,
playing with the surface of the water, and the reflected light from the sky
was absolutely mesmerizing and enchanting. The synchronism between
the visions I saw with my eyes open, and those seen with my eyes closed
was phenomenally amazing. It seemed that the patterns on the water were
responsible for these visions, as well as the profoundly magical and
harmonious mental/emotional state to which I found myself transported.
It was not until a day later that I became aware of the magical link
between DMT and water, and that DMT is most compatible when used in
the vicinity of water. This knowledge actually came to me not while high
on DMT, but while tripping on Ketamine and a 2C-B-like substance, with
Ketamine being the primary factor.
I've also smoked DMT in moist areas. I distinctly recall my two DMT
tryps in Hana on Maui. My first experience was done indoors during the
evening. The sliding door to the back patio was open, and through it
floated the sounds of a stream with splashing pools and waterfalls that
flowed by some 30 feet away. My second experience took place on the
front yard of the estate during the daytime. The stream was still audible,
and had I been sitting up I could have looked out over the ocean less than
a mile away.
When I took this second hit I lay down under a giant coconut palm,
staring up into its bountiful clusters of fruit while sunlight filtered
through its giant drooping fronds. These were two of the most luxurious,
peaceful, and magical DMT tryps I've had. In front of my closed eyelids
the creative force was generating intricate visions of beauty at a rate
approaching a billion per second! I saw harmonious and magically
charged scenes which intermingled nature, plants animals, spirits, people,
and what I took to be ancient Hawaiian Gods.
Another odd point that struck my awareness was the coincidence of the
places I have not smoked DMT. I've already remarked that it was an
unusual coincidence that I had never smoked DMT near water, g~ven my
penchant for taking psychedelics in a multitude of outdoor environments.
This is exaggerated by the fact that I live near the ocean, and my normal
routines take me jogging or bicycling along the beach once or twice each
week.
There could be two logical explanations for this as well. One is that
DMT is not something one tends to use in public, reducing the likelihood
of my smoking DMT at the local beach. The second reason, which I
discovered soon enough, is that with the normally windy conditions of
the California coast it is difficult to keep a lighter burning, much less get
a proper hit of DMT.
One other occasion at which I did not smoke DMT should also be
noted. Seven months prior to my "water" experience I went backpacking
in Death Valley. Although I brought along Peyote, LSD, and Ketamine, I
did not bring any DMT. This could have been due to the poor rapport I
was experiencing with DMT at the time. But it may have been the result
of some omen, instinct, or intuition, which caused me to avoid bringing
DMT to the driest spot in the country.
For my first hit I was sitting naked in the middle of a stream, on the
ledge of a waterfall, with my legs dangling over the side and water
flowing over my body from the waist down. As I took the hit I was
looking seaward, and focusing on the stream. The sensation was peaceful,
yet not the deep serenity I had experienced on the boat. As I lay down to
submerge my back in the water I found myself staring up into a grove of
Koa trees. The energy from these trees was sharp and lively, much more
vibrant than any of the trees I'd been around when smoking DMT in
California. The Koa trees' energy shattered the sensations I'd experienced
while looking at the water, but it was a pleasant, shimmering intensity. I
then stood up, turned around, and looked into the majestic, silken-sheered
mountains behind me. My response to the mountains' energy nearly made
me fall over. The mountains of the Napali coast are like no others in the
world. The highest rainfall levels on earth have eroded these volcanic
remains into sheer, razor-sharp contours covered with a dense blanket of
tropical foliage. They rise to nearly 4,000 ft. in just a short distance from
the sea. At the time of my visit these mountains were even more
ferocious looking than usual. The hurricane which devastated Kauai the
previous fall had stripped off nearly all foliage and branches above lO
feet, leaving thousands of silver tree skeletons in its wake.
I then tried switching my vision between the mountains and the stream.
I found that the water acted as a grounding force, preventing me from
being overwhelmed by the intensity of the mountains.
Before ingesting the DMT I take four grams of Syrian Rue and wait
until MAO inhibition is in effect. I've had good results using about 160 to
200 mg. of DMT. This is far more than is required for smoking, but it
produces a three to four hour experience. I've found it best to consume
the DMT over half an hour to allow for a more gradual inebriation. With
smoked DMT the " flash" is part of its legendary effects. But a more
gradual ascent allows the experience to unfold in a more natural manner,
as occurs with LSD, mushrooms, mescaline, or the Ayahuasca beverage.
With ingested DMT I've had visions which challenge Ketamine visuals
for vastness and cosmicity. Yet these DMT visuals had a degree of
realism I've never before encountered. The images were so real, so alive,
palpable, and tangible that I could almost taste them. And I nearly felt
that I could reach into their dimension and physically touch them. At
In order to find out if DMT affected other people similarly when used
near water, I interviewed friends that have used DMT several times. I
found that most of them have not used DMT outdoors at all, and only a
few have used DMT near water or in a desert. None of these people knew
what I was seeking when asking about their DMT experiences in
different outdoor environments. Yet approximately 75% of those who
had used DMT near water reported some of their most profound tryps in
this environment. A couple people who had not smoked DMT near water
also had water play an important role in their experiences The one person
who had smoked DMT in a desert had begun on a powerful shamanic
journey, but had to disengage as the intensity and fear that he couldn't
handle the ride increased. And a few people reported experiences too
intense to enjoy when using DMT in the presence of fire.
Since discovering this link I have spent lots of time thinking about its
application. That this knowledge can be used by DMT smokers to
increase the chances of a positive experience is the most obvious use.
This may allow DMT smokers to gain reliable access to DMT's magical
aspects, and through developing this alliance, to enter into the shamanic
world. However, since becoming aware of this connection I feel that
mastery of the DMT experience is still many steps away, or that it may
even be something which one can never truly have a firm grasp on.
I'm also curious as to what science will find in relation to this theory.
Since DMT is normally present in the brain, blood, and spinal fluid of
If this is so, there are many possible candidates for the other
substances. Could the psilocybin mushroom be an Earth Spirit? What
would happen if one were to take psilocybin away from earth, say in a
space shuttle or an airplane ? The Harmala alkaloids are also an
important factor here. I should note that this link I'm describing exists
between N,N-DMT and water. Whether a similar link exists for 5-MeO-
DMT I can not presently say. And virtually all of my N,N-DMT
experiences have been done in combination with Harmala alkaloids.
1. Lyrics from the song Voodoo Chile by Jimi Hendrix on the LP Electric Ladyland.
PSYCHEDELIC REALITY
CYDELIKSPACE
As a physicist can explain, what feels like a piece of solid steel, is not
actually solid at all. It is composed of 99.9999... % empty space, with
some minute subatomic particles swirling about at incredible velocities.
So in CydelikSpace, the existence of self and the universe is experienced
as switching on and off and through a myriad manifestations each
fraction of a millisecond.
funneled through the reducing valve of the brain and nervous system.
What comes out at the other end is a measly trickle of the kind of
consciousness which will help us stay alive on the surface of this
particular planet."
"The various 'other worlds' with which human beings erratically make
contact are so many elements in the totality of the awareness belonging to
Mind at Large. Most people, most of the time, know only what comes
through the reducing valve and is consecrated as genuinely real by the
local language. Certain persons, however, seem to be born with a kind of
by-pass that circumvents the reducing valve. In others temporary by-
passes may be acquired either spontaneously, or as the result of deliberate
'spiritual exercises', or through hypnosis, or by means of drugs. Through
these by-passes there flows, not indeed the perception 'of everything that
is happening everywhere in the universe' (for the by-pass does not
abolish the reducing valve, which still excludes the total content of Mind
at Large) [1] but something more than, and above all something different
from, the carefully selected utilitarian material which our narrowed,
individual minds regard as a complete, or at least a aufficient, picture of
reality."
Using LSD with Ketamine has some drawbacks, in that the Ketamine
recovery period is significantly increased and quite unpleasant. I've found
this can be tolerable by taking Ketamine about 2/3 of the way into the
LSD trip, and remaining in bed afterwards until falling asleep. However,
the Ketamine trip is most spectacular if taken in the early stages of the
other psychedelic's duration.
"They are sad. They see what's happening but seldom have mediums
through whom they can communicate. They pray that the ancient
knowledge they worked so hard to obtain will not be lost and will have a
chance to reach humanity and feel the rays of the sun. We coded this
information in the mind, in the DNA, so it would not be lost. Plants will
allow access to this information. "
I also understood from this message that with each generation this
"ancient knowledge" becomes more diluted in our minds, and more
difficult for one to access. When they "see what's happening" on our
planet they are talking in general about society's problems, and they
know that their "knowledge" can cure humanity's woes.
Kundalini energy.
...As I watch I see human bodies mating, giving birth. The scene
changes, various animal and reptilian forms have appeared in place of the
humans, and are now seen mating and producing their offspring. I have a
question in my mind. What is this incessant drive that appears in all
species to re-create, to produce incarnate offspring, to invite suffering ?
This unlimited universe of consciousness was perfect before. As I
continue to watch and wonder, the multiplying bodies change to alien
...A magic ritual had been performed, a most intricate trap had been
set, and the elusive essence of the alien life-giving force had been
captured. She was held as though suspended in space, where all present
could view her form without obstructions, a form shrouded in so much
elusiveness and mystery that previously one could not be sure if she truly
existed, or was merely a figment of imagination and folklore. But there
she was, on display for the first time, and not seeming too happy about
occupying center stage in the spotlight for all to see. She appeared as a
semi-transparent, constantly moving flow of energy and matter;
serpentine, dragon-like, with forked tongue and wings, never holding her
shape for even a moment. Now octopoid, now like a dragonfly,
constantly slithering through different shapes under the scrutinous eyes of
her observers. Of course there was no intention of harming this "Mother-
of- all- Forms," just to observe her for a moment to satisfy the curiosity
for knowledge, and to delight in the marvel of her mysterious ethereal
manifestations...
This experience took place during the stage of the Ketamine journey
where one begins to reestablish self-awareness... I was infinite awareness,
knowing myself to be consciousness itself. As this omnipotent
consciousness, I was also aware that I was the creator of all that I
perceived. I began creating some objects that were suspended in a multi-
dimensional space, floating and swirling about the way planets and star
systems may appear if viewed from a perspective where you could see
their entire motion. I decided to give each of these objects a certain
degree of consciousness and memory, so that they could view things
from their own perspectives. Yet I knew that as objects within my
creation, they could never attain the unlimited awareness that I possessed.
Generating this creation also enlarged my own limitless universe, as I
could now enjoy the miniaturized views belonging to each of these
objects. As I watched, these objects grew in knowledge, along with their
ability to see, understand, and interact with one another and their
As I sit at my desk typing this I am still under the effects of 2C-B plus
Ketamine. Now here's one for the unusual coincidences list. The phone
on my desk rings, normally I would pick it up and talk to whoever's on
the line, even though I'm still fairly inebriated. But as I sat next to the
ringing phone I had the intuition that my mother was calling, she usually
calls every month or two. And since she's under the impression that I
don't take any drugs, I decided not to talk to her while I was this high,
and with my vocalization slurred as it normally is for a couple hours after
taking Ketamine. After the fourth ring my machine answered, and after
my greeting played back I was not surprised to hear my mother's voice
leaving a message.
1. Huxley's parenthesis
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The Holotropic Mind - Stanislav Grof with Hal Zina Bennett, 1993
HarperCollins - Psychologist Stan Grof has administered numerous
psychedelic therapy sessions, beginning in the late Fifties and continuing
in Europe after psychedelic research was made illegal in the U.S. He has
also developed a method for entering non-ordinary consciousness called
Holotropic Breathwork. In The Holotropic Mind Grof has amassed an
impressive and wide-ranging collection of people's experiences of
expanded consciousness, and through this has developed a
comprehensive map of this domain.
The Essential Psychedelic Guide may be ordered from Panther Press for
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residents must add $0.94 tax per copy. For credit card orders add a $1.00
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orders as indicated below.
To order by mail, copy the form below and send with payment to:
Panther Press
1032 Irving, #514
San Francisco, CA 94122
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D. M. Turner - Back Cover
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